When I bought my 2000 Ducati 900sie it the PO had replaced the handlebar with clip-ons. It looks great, but it is a bit of a pain for longer rides. I've not ridden the Monster with handlebars, so I have nothing to compare. I see a lot of people on here flip the handlebars and a few change to clip ons.
Can anyone chime in about the difference between handlebars and clip-ons for feel and look? Your impressions and experience would be most helpful.
Hanfdlebars will give you a "more comfortable" position while the clip ons will give "more feel/control" and the LOOK . . . I havr done both, was thinking about going back to bar but bar somehow got bent so staying with clips on top of top triple, this is about 30mm lower than my previous Renthal bar so I have a little compromise; around town does get tiresome but on medium/long rides I canaccomodate myself to either be "aerodynamic" or comfortable
this is more a personal thing . . it could be that after you install the bar you wont have the same feel from the front but more control around town . . . try changing the clips to top of triple if you dont like it them go for the bar.
my 0.02
I prefer the looks of clip-ons, but the comfort of bars on the street. I think both are just fine as far as feel goes...to me the difference is all about looks and comfort.
A nice compromise may be riser clip-ons, like the Speedymoto Tallboys.
http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/08-0250/Bars-Mirrors/08-0250.html (http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/08-0250/Bars-Mirrors/08-0250.html)
I agree with what has been mentioned above. Personally I had installed clip-ins on my M1000, I had them on for about 5 years, but due to bike accidents in my youth I've had to go back to bars. The clip-ons gave me neck and shoulder pain.
Bars are cheap and easy to install, may as well just try it.
The OEM bars come pre-drilled for the controls, so that makes it heaps easier.
I think both look great on the monster.
For those either interested in more of a café racer look or doing track days, the clip ons make sense.
I've always preferred the look of the monster as a true sporty standard and like the handlebars better. I think a slighty wider set of black rizoma bars look best of all.
I got stock bars off a 99 750, let me know it you're interested, I'm staying with the clip ons